Semi-automatic loader for continuous muffin griddles

ABSTRACT

A semi-automatic dough piece feeding process, and apparatus capable of being used in practicing the process, for the loading of continuous griddles of the conveyor type, comprising the steps of placing dough pieces on a tray having a plurality of positioned cups, placing a multiplicity of trays in a drawer on a mobile rack conveniently located aside the infeed end of the continuous griddle, removing a tray from the drawer and engaging it in a locating assembly mounted to the infeed end of the continuous griddle, up-ending the tray thus engaged to deposit the dough pieces thereon into receiving cups positioned on an auto-turn assembly mounted to the infeed end of the continuous griddle, dumping of the dough pieces from the receiver cups into positioned griddle cups on the moving conveyor flight, and returning the empty tray to starting position and removal therefrom ready for a repeat cycle.

[ Aug, 14, 1973 United States Patent 1 91 Noel ABSTRACT SEMI-AUTOMATICLOADER FOR CONTINUOUS MUFFIN GRIDDLES A semi-automatic dough piece f eeding process, and ap- [76] lnventor: Eugene M. Noel, 42 Kingston Rd.,

Newton Highlands, Mass. 02161 Sept. 17, 1971 paratus capable of beingused in practicing the process,

for the loading of continuous griddles of the conveyor [22] Filed:

type, comprising the steps of placing dough pieces on PP 181,513 a trayhaving a plurality of positioned cups, placing a multiplicity of traysin a drawer on a mobile rack conveniently located aside the infeed endof the continuous griddle, removing a tray from the drawer and engagingit in a locating assembly mounted to the infeed end of the continuousgriddle, up-ending the tray thus engaged to deposit the dough piecesthereon into re- 2 2 QOMMS 3 l /7 M44 l l 1 g 1 2 5 3 3 1, Lu W "92 4 M1 n1 2 4 m" l "n 3 n" 4 mm 1 I 2 mm Thu "c m M L C l0 M Mk U IF 1 .ll 28 5 55 .l.

ceiving cups positioned on an auto-tum assembly mounted to the infeedend of the continuous griddle,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS dumping of the dough piecesfrom the receiver cups into positioned griddle cups on the movingconveyor 2,311,709 2/1943 214 301 flight, and returning the empty trayto starting position Jackson and removal therefrom ready for a repeatcycle,

Primary ExaminerGerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-Lawrence J. Oresky10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Attorney-Charles W. Rummler et a1.

Patented Aug. 14, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VE /V 70/? E UGENE M. NOELPatented Aug. 14, 1973 3,752,341

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNl/ENTOR o EUGENE M. NOEL SEMI-AUTOMATIC LOADER FORCONTINUOUS MUFFIN GRIDDLES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This inventionconcerns an apparatus for attachment to a conveyor-type griddle, for theindustrial grilling, cooking or baking of English muffins and the like,providing for manual loading of the continuous griddle on asemiautomatic basis.

The design of continuously operating industrial process machineryultimately involves the problem of coordinating the manual infeed of theproduct to be processed with the input requirements of the followingcontinuously operating process machine. Applicable materials handlingtechniques adaptable for specific industry applications depend in themain on the physical characteristics of the material handled. Only inunique cases can fully automatic loading of continuously operatingprocessing machinery be made directly from a hopper or storage binwithout the aid or help of human hands. More often than not thecharacteristics of the product material are such that it does not lenditself to such fully automatic materials handling methods and systemsincorporating semi-automatic handling techniques involving some manualwork have been devised. Such is the case in the handling of wet tackyproofed dough pieces used in the grilling of English muffins.

ln the industrial production of grilled English muffins, it has beencustomary for operators to take divided dough pieces and manually loadmoving form cups on a continuous griddle as disclosed in my U.S. Pat.No. Re. 24,855. Dough piece handling rate for this apparatus is directlylimited by the number of operators who can be stationed in the limitedaccess space for hand loading of the griddle cups on an individualbasis. Each hand-loader in the performance of his work is faced withrecurrent time-consuming multiple movement time and space optionsnecessary for coordinating the picking up and placement of each doughpiece in this respective cup at that particular time. This severelylimits the productive capacity of such apparatus.

In order to maximize productive capacity of a continuous griddle of thekind disclosed in Re. U.S. Pat. No. 24,855, it is necessary to loaddough pieces in the plurality on trays in the multiple and store theassembly in the aggregate to give the operator the leverage needed tokeep the continuous griddle in uninterrupted production. Only byrelieving the operator of the duty of piece-loading can the fullproductive capacity of such continuous griddles be realized.

The instant invention, called auto-turn, provides an electro-mechanicalmeans for so relieving the operator of this burdensome duty andaccomplishes this purpose allowing a continuous griddle to operate atits maximum productivity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides a process and anapparatus for the carrying out of the process which allows for thepiece-loading and multiple storage of trays having a plurality of cupsholding proofed dough pieces placed therein in preparation for aproduction run at maximum productivity of a continuous griddle such asdisclosed in my U.S. Pat. No. Re. 24,855. These trays, each with itsplurality of dough pieces, are laid side-byside in drawers positioned onmobile racks placed proximate to the infeed of the apparatus of thisinvention allowing the operator accessibility to all trays at all timeswithin arm's reach. Drawer replacements are readily available on mobileracks nearby as successive drawers are exhausted of a full complement oftrays during the production run.

At the start of the semi-automatic loading cycle, a tray holding thedough pieces is held horizontally by the operator and engaged in alocating yoke assembly pivotally mounted to the infeed end of thecontinuous griddle. Each tray has four pins projecting from the bottom.As the tray is engaged in the locating yokes, the pins contact laterallyspaced beveled yoke edges and laterally guide the tray to its startingposition. In the insertion of the tray flange between spaced coplanartop and bottom arms of the yoke up against a forward stop on the yokeassembly, the tray and its dough pieces are positioned horizontally andvertically with regard to the positioning requirements of the infeed endof the continuous griddle in readiness for starting the automaticloading of the dough pieces to the continuous griddle.

Pivotally up-ending the tray in a forward movement from the startingposition deposits the dough pieces into the receiving cups aligned andpositioned in readiness for their automatic dumping therefrom into thegriddle cups moving on the conveyor flight below. Without releasing thetray after the deposition of dough pieces, the operator returns it emptyto the starting position. He then removes the tray from the locatingyoke assembly, making it available for the insertion of a new tray witha new load of dough pieces. A spring retiirn insures the return of thetray to starting position in the event the operator fails to do somanually.

The dough pieces as deposited in the receiving cups are orientatedtherein dry side down against the bottom of the cup. This configurationis desirable from the standpoint of the need for quick dump of the doughfrom receiver cup to griddle cup when the receiver cup is up-ended. Wet,tacky dough sticks to the cup and renders timing of the dump of thedough uncertain and difficult. Dry dough dumps to the griddle cup belowquickly at a predictable time.

Coordination of the timing of dump of the receiver cups into the movinggriddle cups is accomplished by an electro-mechanical device combiningthe action of a normally energized solenoid for holding the receivingcups in receiving position in combination with a rack and pinion andtension spring device for timely upending the receiving cups when thegriddle cups are situated below. De-energizing the solenoid at theproper time releases its connected rack against the pull of the tensionspring acting to turn a pinion gear mounted on the end of a shaftcarrying the up-endedreceiver cups mounted thereon. A normally closedlimit. switch mounted to a side frame member opens an electrical circuitwhen actuated by a trip rod and de-energizes the solenoid at the propertime sensing the presence of a griddle cup situated on the movingconveyor. The signal is given to command the pinion to dump the doughpiece at the right time to a griddle cup below. Once the trip rod losescontact with the moving griddle cup, the limit switch returns to itsnormally closed position and the electrical circuit is closed,re-energizing the solenoid. The plunger of the re-energized solenoidpulls on the rack, and the racks pulls on the tension spring while thepinion gear mounted on the end of the shaft engagof the shaft carryingthe receiving cups in the dump operation and the back-ward turn upontheir return.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order to demonstrate the invention,reference is made to the non-limiting embodiment illustrated by thedrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the semi-automatic muffin loadingapparatus mounted on the infeed end of a continuous griddle with thedrawer containing the multiple trays loaded with a plurality of doughpieces laid on a mobile rack positioned nearby.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same apparatus mounted on the infeed end ofa continuous griddle showing the trip rod and limit switch forcoordinating receiver cup dump with griddle cup position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tray loaded with a plurality ofdough pieces positioned in the spaced cups thereon'showing the locatingpins projecting from the bottom side of the flange.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary left side view of the apparatus showing the trayengaged in the locating yokes in starting position with the receivercups up-ended in coordination with the griddle cup moving on theconveyor chain below.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the apparatus showing in detail the trayengagement means, the adjacent receiving means and theelectro-mechanical coordinating means for dumping the dough pieces intothe griddle cups on the moving conveyor below, the right handfragmentation showing the up-ended position of the dough receiving cupand the left hand fragmentation showing the dough receiving position ofthe cup, but with the top arm of tray locating yoke removed.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary left side view of the apparatus of FIG. 5showing the up-ended tray with the receiver cups for the deposit ofdough pieces below and the tension spring and sheave device for the dumpoperation.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary right side view of the apparatus of FIG. 5showing the solenoid and plunger connected to the rack with its engagedpinion gear, and the tension spring connected to the rack for the dumpoperation.

THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, particularly FIG. 1,the semi-automatic muffin feeding apparatus for attachment to acontinuous muffin griddle comprises spaced side frame members 10 adaptedto be mounted to the infeed end of the frame 12 of a continuous muffingriddle 14. Spaced side frame members 10 are structurally tied togetherby threaded tie rods 16 and 18 capped with nut and jambnut combination20 shown in FIG. 5. Tray engaging assembly 31 having tray 32 installedthereon is mounted to the infeed end of the continuous griddle 14.

Tray 32 has a plurality of cups 42 linearly spaced thereon, as shown inFIG. 3, for holding the dough pieces in position to match the infeedposition of the griddle cups 58 on the continuous griddle 14. Forpurposes of high productivity, it is convenient to assemble amultiplicity of such trays 32 in a single drawer 43 and to lay theassembly atop a mobile rack 44. Rack 44 is then positioned close-by theinfeed guard 46 of the continuous griddle 14, proximate point X," asshown in FIG. 1, conveniently within arms reach of both the trays 32 onrack 44 and the tray locating yoke assembly 22 on the infeed end of thecontinuous griddle 14 shown in FIG. 2.

Tie rod 16 mounted on frame members 10 pivotally supports tray locatingyokes 22, as shown in FIG. 5. Tray locating yokes 22 with the tray 32 instarting position thereon, as shown in FIG. 2, are part of tray engagingassembly 31. Yoke 22 is comprised of a top arm 24 spaced above, coplanarand having a common base of attachment with a bottom arm 26 below, asshown in FIG. 6. Yoke 22 is mounted on bar member 28 which is joumaledto tie rod 16, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5.

In the starting position as shown in FIG. 2, the flange of tray 32 isinserted between top and bottom arms 24 and 26 of yokes 22, shown inFIG. 4, fixing the vertical location of the tray in the tray engagingoperation. Spaced bottom arms 26 having laterally disposed beveled inneredges 30, as shown in FIG. 5, fix the sidewise location of utility tray32 in its insertion, whereas bar member 28 having spaced stops 34mounted thereon limits the forward insertion of tray 32 therein. Tray 32has spaced locating pins 36 projecting from four corners of the bottomside of the flange thereof for contacting the beveled edges 30 of spacedbottom arms 26 for the sidewise location of the tray. The flange of tray32 has a forward edge 38 which contacts the spaced stops 34 mounted tospace bottom arms 26 of yokes 22 establishing the forward location ofthe tray. Tray 32 as engaged in the tray engaging assembly 31 thenstands ready for up-ending and the coordinated dumping of dough piecesheld therein onto the griddle cups 50 on the moving conveyor flight 60below.

Tray engaging assembly 31 up-ends cups 42 on tray 32, as shown in FIG.6, by pivoting the assembly 31 about its forward edge approximately fromthe starting position shown in FIG. 4 up against stop 46 mounted onsupport rod 48. Support rod 48 is mounted between side members 10.Up-ending tray cups 42 deposits dough pieces in receiver cups 50 inreadiness for the auto-turn operation.

After the dough pieces are deposited in the receiver cups 50, torsionspring 52 shown in FIG. 5, mounted to side frame member 10 inconcentricity with tie rod 20 and in connection with bar member 28 oftray engaging assembly 31, automatically returns the empty tray 32 tostarting position against return stop 54 which is mounted to frame sidewalls 10, as shown in FIG. 4. Empty tray 32 is then removed from thetray engaging assembly 31 in preparation for the insertion of a new tray32 loaded with additional dough pieces.

In the dumping of the dough pieces from the receiver cups 50 to thegriddle cups 58, shaft 56 rotates approximately 180 counter-clockwise,as viewed from the right hand side of the griddle 14, up against stop 55mounted to frame 10, up-ended the receiver cups 50 and, as shown in FIG.4, dumping the dough pieces to the griddle cups 58 mounted on movingconveyor flight 60 below. The dumping operation can only be made whenthe up-ended receiver cups 50 are positioned directly above the griddlecups 58 below.

Coordinating means 61 shown in FIG. 2 times the dump of receiver cups 50with the position of moving griddle cups 58. Coordinating means 61comprises a normally closed limit switch 62 which is mounted to sideframe member 10 and actuated by trip rod 64. Trip rod 64 is positionedadjacent to the path of moving conveyor flight 60 to contact and sensethe presence of moving griddle cup 58 mounted thereon and to actuatelimit switch 62 thereby. Actuation of limit switch 62 opens anelectrical circuit de-energizing solenoid 66 which is mounted to sideframe member 10, as shown in FIG. 7. De-energization of solenoid 66releases the magnetic pull on plunger 68, which is slidable in solenoid66 in a direction paralleling the movement of conveyor flight 60,allowing plunger. 68 to extend from solenoid 66.

Release of contact between passing griddle cup 58 and trip rod 64deactuates limit switch 62 closing the electrical circuit and energizingsolenoid 66 inducing a magnetic pull on plunger 68 to slidably retractinto solenoid 66 in the reverse direction. As energized by limit switch62, magnetic pull on plunger 68 is thus coordinated with the position ofgriddle cup 58 on moving conveyor flight 60 and is further coordinatedwith the dough piece dumping operation by the combination action oftension spring and rack and pinion mechanism 69 shown in FIGS. 5 and 7and tension spring and sheave device 71 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

Tension spring and rack and pinion mechanism 69 comprises gibbs 70mounted to side frame members shown in FIGS. 5 and 7 which slidablysupport rack gear 72 for movement in a direction paralleling themovement of conveyor flight 60. One end of gear rack 72 is connected tosolenoid plunger 68. The other end of gear rack 72 is connected totension spring 74. Tension spring 74 is further connected to side framemember 10 such that rack 72 pulls tension spring 74 in the directionopposed to the movement of conveyor flight 60.

In rack and pinion mechanism, one end of shaft 56 mounts pinion gear 76,as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7. Pinion gear 76 engages rack 72 so thatextension of plunger 68 from solenoid 66 upon actuation of limit switch62 by trip rod 64 rotates shaft 56 counterclockwise in a directionviewed as before directed up against a stop 57 up-ending receiver cups59 mounted thereon, as shown in right hand fragmentation of FIG. 5,effecting the dump operation. Product guides 79 shown in FIG. 6 guidethe dump of the dough pieces from the upended receiver cups 50 into thegriddle cups 58 below.

Thus at one end of shaft 56 the extension of plunger 68 from the timelyde-energization of solenoid 66 cooperating with tension spring 74 andrack 72 and acting on pinion 76 up-ends the receiver cups 50 in dump. Inorder to adjust dump timing, the variable tension of the sheave-springdevice 71 at the other end of shaft 56 provides an adjustment of thedumping speed so that better coordination of the up-ending of cups 50with the motion of cups 58 in the dumping operation can be had.

The other end of shaft 56 mounting the sheave-spring device 71 hassheave 78, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, carrying tension spring 80 woundclockwise therearound, as viewed from the left side of the griddle 14,

with one end fastened in the sheave groove therein.

The other end of tension spring 80, pulling forward in a directionparalleling the movement of conveyor flight 60, is connected to sideframe member 10 through adjusting hand nut and eye bolt 82, so that thetotal tension of both tension springs 74 and 80 can be utilized ineffecting a dough piece dump operation, or an adjustable tension can bemade to provide the necessary coordination adjustment of the apparatusto conform with the continuous griddle conveyor movement and position.

Although several specific embodiments of this invention have been hereinshown and described, it will be understood that the details ofconstruction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from thespirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A process for semi-automatic loading of dough pieces to a continuousgriddle having positioned griddle cups moving thereon comprising thesteps:

a. positioning dough pieces on a tray,

b. engaging the tray in a locating assembly mounted to the continuousgriddle,

c. up-ending the tray engaged therein and depositing the dough piecesinto positioned receiving cups below,

d. up-ending the receiving cups in coordination with the movement of thegriddle cups of the continuous griddle and dumping the dough piecestherein into the griddle cups below, and then e. removing the tray fromthe locating assembly in preparation for a repeat cycle therein.

2. An apparatus for the semi-automatic loading of dough pieces ingriddle cups positioned above a moving conveyor adjacent the infeed endof a continuous griddle comprising:

a. a tray means having a plurality of positioned cups thereon forholding dough pieces placed therein,

b. a tray engagement means mounted adjacent the infeed end of thecontinuous griddle for locating the tray means when engaged therein andproviding for upending of the tray means and the positioned deposit ofdough pieces therefrom,

c. a receiving means for receiving the positioned deposit of the doughpieces from the up-ended tray means,

d. a dumping means providing for up-ending the receiving means for thepositioned dump of the dough pieces therefrom into griddle cups on themoving conveyor, and

e. a coordinating means for coordinating the upending of the receivingmeans with the positioned griddle cups on the moving conveyor.

3. An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the tray means comprises:

a. a flange having top and bottom sides and a forward edge, and

b. spaced locating pins projecting from the bottom side of the flangefor locating the tray on said engagement means.

4. An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the tray engagement meanscomprises:

a. spaced side-frame members mounted to the continuous griddle,

b. a bar member pivotally mouted to the spaced sideframe members, and

c. coplanar, spaced yoke means mounted to said bar member forhorizontally and vertically locating of the engagement of the tray meanstherein.

5. An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the yoke means comprises:

a. a top arm for vertically locating the top of the tray flange engagedtherein,

b. a coplanar spaced bottom arm for vertically locating the bottom ofthe tray flange engaged therein v having a laterally disposedQbeVeiedinner edge for lateral .locationof the tray locating pins thereon, and vc. a forward stop mounted on the bar member forforward location of thetray engaged therein. 6. An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the dough byengagement with the piece receiving means comprises: I

a. an auto-turn shaft journaled in the spaced side- 7. An apparatusas'in claim" 2 wherein the dough c. a first tension spring having oneend connected to V the side frame member and the other end connected tothe end of the rack pulling the rack so as toturn the auto-turn shaft ina given direction, and 1 d. a stop limiting the turn of the auto-tumshaft in the given direction. i j 8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7including:

a. a sheave having a groove in its circumference mounted to the otherend of the auto-turn shaft,

and b. a second tension spring having one end connected to an adjustingmeans mounted on' the side frame member and the other end wound aroundand connected to the l groove in the sheave pulling the sheave so as toturn the auto-turn shaft in the same given direction. 9. An apparatus asin claim 8 wherein the second tension spring adjusting means comprises:

a. an eye bolt connected to the end of the second tension Jspring havinga threaded shank extending through a hole in the side-frame member, andb. a threaded nut engaging the extension of' the threaded shank againstthe side-frame member.

l0. An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the coordinating means comprises:

' a; a limit switch mounted on the side-frame member 7 and connected inan electrical circuit, b. a trip rod operationally connected to thelimit switch for opening'the circuit when the rod con tacts the griddlecup on the moving conveyor,

. a solenoid connected in the electrical circuit having a plungerslidably mounted therein connected to the rack so that energization ofthe solenoid by the limit switch closing the electrical circuit when thegriddle cup passes the trip rod pulls the plunger and connecting rack ina given direction in opposition to the pull of the first tension springturning 'the autoturn'shaft in the direction opposed to the givendirection, and' d. a stop limiting the turn of the autoturn shaft in thedirection opposed to the given direction.

a: t e a

1. A process for semi-automatic loading of dough pieces to a continuousgriddle having positioned griddle cups moving thereon comprising thesteps: a. positioning dough pieces on a tray, b. engaging the tray in alocating assembly mounted to the continuous griddle, c. up-ending thetray engaged therein and depositing the dough pieces into positionedreceiving cups below, d. up-ending the receiving cups in coordinationwith the movement of the griddle cups of the continuous griddle anddumping the dough pieces therein into the griddle cups below, and thene. removing the tray from the locating assembly in preparation for arepeat cycle therein.
 2. An apparatus for the semi-automatic loading ofdough pieces in griddle cups positioned above a moving conveyor adjacentthe infeed end of a continuous griddle comprising: a. a tray meanshaving a plurality of positioned cups thereon for holding dough piecesplaced therein, b. a tray engagement means mounted adjacent the infeedend of the continuous griddle for locating the tray means when engagedtherein and providing for upending of the tray means and the positioneddeposit of dough pieces therefrom, c. a receiving means for receivingthe positioned deposit of thE dough pieces from the up-ended tray means,d. a dumping means providing for up-ending the receiving means for thepositioned dump of the dough pieces therefrom into griddle cups on themoving conveyor, and e. a coordinating means for coordinating theup-ending of the receiving means with the positioned griddle cups on themoving conveyor.
 3. An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the tray meanscomprises: a. a flange having top and bottom sides and a forward edge,and b. spaced locating pins projecting from the bottom side of theflange for locating the tray on said engagement means.
 4. An apparatusas in claim 2 wherein the tray engagement means comprises: a. spacedside-frame members mounted to the continuous griddle, b. a bar memberpivotally mouted to the spaced side-frame members, and c. coplanar,spaced yoke means mounted to said bar member for horizontally andvertically locating of the engagement of the tray means therein.
 5. Anapparatus as in claim 2 wherein the yoke means comprises: a. a top armfor vertically locating the top of the tray flange engaged therein, b. acoplanar spaced bottom arm for vertically locating the bottom of thetray flange engaged therein having a laterally disposed, beveled inneredge for lateral location of the tray by engagement with the locatingpins thereon, and c. a forward stop mounted on the bar member forforward location of the tray engaged therein.
 6. An apparatus as inclaim 2 wherein the dough piece receiving means comprises: a. anauto-turn shaft journaled in the spaced side-frame members, and b.receiving cups positioned in coplanar relation thereon.
 7. An apparatusas in claim 2 wherein the dough piece dumping means comprises: a. apinion gear mounted to one end of the autoturn shaft, b. a rack slidablymounted to the side frame member engaging the pinion and having twoends, c. a first tension spring having one end connected to the sideframe member and the other end connected to the end of the rack pullingthe rack so as to turn the auto-turn shaft in a given direction, and d.a stop limiting the turn of the auto-turn shaft in the given direction.8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7 including: a. a sheave having agroove in its circumference mounted to the other end of the auto-turnshaft, and b. a second tension spring having one end connected to anadjusting means mounted on the side frame member and the other end woundaround and connected to the groove in the sheave pulling the sheave soas to turn the auto-turn shaft in the same given direction.
 9. Anapparatus as in claim 8 wherein the second tension spring adjustingmeans comprises: a. an eye bolt connected to the end of the secondtension spring having a threaded shank extending through a hole in theside-frame member, and b. a threaded nut engaging the extension of thethreaded shank against the side-frame member.
 10. An apparatus as inclaim 2 wherein the coordinating means comprises: a. a limit switchmounted on the side-frame member and connected in an electrical circuit,b. a trip rod operationally connected to the limit switch for openingthe circuit when the rod contacts the griddle cup on the movingconveyor, c. a solenoid connected in the electrical circuit having aplunger slidably mounted therein connected to the rack so thatenergization of the solenoid by the limit switch closing the electricalcircuit when the griddle cup passes the trip rod pulls the plunger andconnecting rack in a given direction in opposition to the pull of thefirst tension spring turning the autoturn shaft in the direction opposedto the given direction, and d. a stop limiting the turn of the auto-turnshaft in the direction opposed to the given direction.